Seven Samoan Sabbath Keepers

Lance Cutts – The Plumber
From Auckland and Vailoa, Faleata

Lance Cutts and son Jackson

I am not proud of…my dreadful past
Drinks and drugs…were my favourite stuff
The Lord rescued me…He changed my life
I’ll serve Him always,…in this Pacific Paradise
In 2011, in the month…of October
I buried my adorable…two-year-old daughter
Elena died accidentally…and it broke my heart
Saying goodbye to my baby…was terribly hard
“To see my darling child”…is the cry of my heart
In the home above…from her I’ll never part
There’s only one way I again…can meet my child
It’s serving God and others…with my life upright

I’ve been a church member…for 37 years
My blessings have been many…with just a few tears
My main responsibility…is to uphold the law

L-R: Moananu Tuasivi, Emoni Tesese and Pastor Sioeli Puni

I’d never ever dream…of breaking God’s law
My loyalty is to my Master…and my King
His praises my spirit…will always sing
Two things, dear Lord…are precious to me
They are my God…and my family
My heart is delighted…my soul is free
Even if on Sabbath…I worship under a tree
My goal in life is to be…saved by Thy grace
In Thee, dear Lord…I rest my case.

A devout Roman Catholic I used to be
Fighting the Adventists was fun for me
I was a pest and menace to everyone
Until converted to the church I used to shun
My imperfect past I sincerely regret
I know my Lord will forgive and forget
At this time of my life, without hesitation
I gladly serve God with total determination
Three times a week my body undergoes
Dialysis treatment for my health woes
When life does end and I say good night
May it be said, I “fought a good fight”

At two months old,…my father unexpectedly died
I did not know him…and I never said goodbye
Six months ago, in her sleep…my mother died
I found her still-warm body…and I hadn’t said goodbye
Although an orphan…I’m not forsaken
A member of God’s family…my faith is unshaken
On the Sabbath issue…I’m just a proletarian
No calculations, except…the seventh is the Sabbath
If my mother was alive…for sure she’d say
“Keep the Saturday Sabbath…it’s God’s holy day”
I want to meet my parents…on the golden morning
God’s commands I’ll keep…- to heaven I’m going

The Twelve-Year-Old – Togiaso Tito
From Lalovaea and Salani

Togiaso Tito and Tina Ta’i Vise

I’m a quiet and skinny…twelve-year-old
A tender lamb in…God’s Sabbath-keeping fold
I attend the Lalovaea…SDA Primary School
Below Mount Vaea…– so green and cool
Each Sabbath morn to church…I hitch a ride
Crammed at the back…or squashed inside
As long as I get to…Sabbath School on time
Whatever car I ride…I’ll be satisfied
All adults at home…keep Sunday as Sabbath
While alone I keep…the seventh-day Sabbath
I surely hope I can do…as I have learned
That “A little child shall lead them”

When my parents separated, I was in despair
I felt abandoned and thought no one cared
Unknown to me, my grandmother prayed
That my drifting soul, the Lord would save
Though I wandered far and was utterly lost
My ship floundered, and I was way off course
Thank God I returned a few years ago
To the City of Gold, beyond doubt I want to go
My apprehension, Lord, is my wife and child
I do not want to leave them behind
May they decide for Thee within time
Before You draw the final dividing line

My father was a devout…Sunday keeper
Became an Adventist while…training as a minister
Banished from home…and labelled a traitor
Ridiculed and rejected…for the Lord He labored
A man of strength…with profound dedication
To me and my siblings…an inspiration
A warrior for the Saviour…who gave his all
He is at rest, awaiting…the Master’s call
The sacrifices he made…shaped my life
I’ll do my part, holding high…heaven’s light
Despite the pain…the struggle and loss
He was true to the Saviour…and the Old Rugged Cross

Emoni T Tesese and her mother, Avaganofoa Puni Tesese

Always busy – professionally…and personally
Regrettably, I was not…very busy spiritually
Like the coin in the parable…I’d been lost in the dust
While in the church…I gathered moss and rust
It’s nobody’s fault…but mine alone
Like a ship without an engine…I drifted along

Knowing that my Lord has done .so much for me
I chose to make a stand for the Man of Galilee
The Leader of the Universe knows my pain and tears
The cry of His people, He sees and hears
I’ll stay true to my values, I won’t compromise
To the Lord I’ll be true, no matter what the price

About Emoni Tesese

Emoni Tesese is reporter and an official spokesperson for the Samoa Seventh-day Sabbath Keepers who keep the same day as the world-wide Seventh-day Adventist church while most Adventist members in Samoa worship on Sunday.